Blue sponge?

[Singlefile43]

Got this from a local friend said if i put that small chunk in there it'll grow? Can someone ID that? Blue sponge is what it is I think?

1.)Should I keep in high light low light?
2.)Flow requirements?
3.)Should I feed it?
4.)How do I kno if its alive? Ways to tell?

 

[Singlefile43]

 

[slapshot]

That is really a black sponge. Pretty hardy. Does not like light. Other than that its pretty easy

 

[Singlefile43]

Should I feed it?
And how do I know if its still living? Like if it grows or not?

 

[victor escobar]

I've kept one on full light for years and growing

 

[SantaMonica]

Yea a blue sponge would usually be a blue blob with holes.

All sponges love flow though... delivers more food particles to it.

 

[Ptyochromis]

Sponges do make their own flow (you will sill have to provide them with current), their biology is quite interesting.

It should feed on water borne bacteria, waterborne diatoms, phytoplankton. Food size should be around 0.1µm-10µm. I would dose vinegar and or vodka to get your waterborne microbe count up.

If slapshot is right and the sponge you have doesn't like light, then I'm going to go out on a limb and say that either it is a deepwater species and would enjoy a more laminar flow and/or it grows in caves and protected areas and would like a gentler current. My money would be on the former.

For identification
does it have an exoskeleton (possibly calcareous) or internal skeleton?
Does it have a central osculum.
Are the ostium big enough to be seen?


Good luck, sponges are sweet.

 

[Moort82]

That looks like a species common refered to as liver sponge. Its a very invasive species and most people want to get rid of it. You will also see plenty of people who have had to strip their tanks to do so.
My advice as you obviously like it would be to put it somewhere which is away from other rocks or where you can manage its growth. I have a pink species and it grows in all conditions but they are photosynthetic so light will speed up this growth.